Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent seafaring sequel is complex but rewarding adventure.
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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
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What’s It About?
PILLARS OF ETERNITY II: DEADFIRE picks up immediately after the events of the first game. The god Eothas, thought by the people of Eora to have been destroyed long ago, has somehow returned to life, taking the form of a massive stone titan. You witness this violent rebirth first hand, barely escaping death as the god wreaks havoc on your stronghold. Now it's up to you and your companions to set sail throughout the Deadfire Archipelago to hunt the rampaging deity. Along the way, you'll uncover a hidden secret that could threaten the existence of both the pantheon of gods and the world of mortals.
Is It Any Good?
This sea-based role playing game deciphers the mystery of just how to improve on the original without losing sight of why it struck a chord with the audience to begin with. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire handles this tricky balance with both style and substance; it takes the core mechanics that players loved in the first game, adds a seafaring ship and crew to the experience, and tosses all of that into an open world which players can explore pretty much as they see fit. All of this makes for an even richer and deeper role-playing game which, thanks to a continued focus on freedom of choice, crafts a more personal story for the player.
While Deadfire is a unquestionably rewarding to fans of the genre, it's not exactly welcoming to newcomers. There are a lot of nuances involved in the game's actions, with a lot of emphasis on character stats, modifiers, etc. Sorting through classes, subclasses, party members, ship skills and crew, and other details is a complex, detail-oriented task, and the game falls a bit short in helping ease players into it. Veterans of old school pen-and-paper tabletop role-playing games should feel right at home with this sort of core mechanic. But that feature of Deadfire can be a bit overwhelming to anyone thinking they can jump into this game expecting a more casual adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Would the story of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire be just as effective or engaging if it didn't have as much blood or gore?
Talk about moral choices in gaming. What are some of the unique opportunities to explore morality in gaming? What can be learned by playing on either end of the moral spectrum?
Discuss mature content in media. When do things like profanity, violence, and nudity add to a story, and when are they more gratuitous?
Game Details
- Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Versus Evil
- Release date: May 8, 2018
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Last updated: October 30, 2019
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